Punjab’s education department is weighing an early start to summer vacations as temperatures across the province consistently climb toward 45°C. With heatwave alerts issued for Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad, officials are under pressure to pull forward the scheduled break to protect millions of students.
The current academic calendar mandates schools close for summer on June 1. However, the provincial health department has flagged the rising heat index as a direct risk to children, particularly in primary and middle schools where classrooms often lack functional cooling systems. “We are monitoring the weather patterns daily,” a senior official at the Punjab School Education Department said.
“If the mercury stays at these levels, we won’t wait for June. The health of the students is the priority.” Parents have been vocal on social media, reporting cases of children suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration during the commute and school hours.
Private school associations are also pushing for a decision, citing the difficulty of managing high student density in unventilated rooms as the power grid struggles to keep up with surging demand. While no official notification has been signed, sources within the secretariat suggest the government is leaning toward a mid-May closure. The department is expected to finalize the decision within 48 hours after reviewing the latest reports from the Meteorological Department.
If the early closure is approved, schools will likely transition to online classes or fast-track remaining exams to ensure the curriculum isn’t compromised. For now, the administration has directed school heads to limit outdoor assemblies and ensure clean, cold drinking water is available throughout the day.
The decision reflects a growing trend in Pakistan, where shifting climate patterns are forcing authorities to rewrite standard operating procedures for public services. Whether this becomes a permanent adjustment to the academic calendar remains to be seen, but for the upcoming week, the focus remains on keeping classrooms empty until the heat subsides.
